The Denver Nuggets pulled off a thrilling upset against the Oklahoma City Thunder, edging them out 121-119 in a nail-biter that gave them a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. It was a dramatic finish, highlighted by a game-winning three-pointer from Aaron Gordon—a moment that will surely make waves as the playoffs heat up.
The sequence that led to Gordon’s clutch shot was expertly orchestrated. Following a missed free throw by Thunder center Chet Holmgren, Nuggets guard Christian Braun expertly pushed the pace, finding Russell Westbrook, who then spotted the wide-open Gordon lurking behind the arc. With ice in his veins, Gordon sank the shot, sealing the victory for Denver in style.
As you can imagine, the excitement was palpable in that arena. But the Nuggets were surprisingly cautious in their celebration—there were still more than two seconds left on the clock, and they quickly shifted back to defense, determined not to let OKC pull off a last-second miracle. Once the final buzzer sounded, the excitement really erupted, with Gordon being swarmed by his teammates in jubilation.
However, one notable figure amidst the excitement was star center Nikola Jokic, who appeared unfazed by the win. For those watching, it was striking to see Jokic, fresh off a monstrous performance with 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists, make his way back to the bench rather than joining in the celebration. Perhaps it’s a reflection of his veteran mindset—having already secured an NBA championship, he knows that a single game in the playoffs doesn’t define the journey. Or, it could be that he doesn’t care about basketball. This isn’t the first time the “Joker” hasn’t been interested in celebrating.
With Game 2 on the horizon, set for Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. EST in Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, the Nuggets aim to continue their momentum. With the talent and determination displayed in Game 1, they’ll look to take a commanding 2-0 lead against the Thunder. It’s shaping up to be an exciting series, and both teams will certainly bring their A-game as they vie for a shot at the conference finals.
